New Article: A special moment during the Ipswich game

stuart_lee · July 2016

Ever since my Dad took me to my first football match at about the age of 10, I've always thought to myself 'wouldn't it be amazing if the ball was kicked into the crowd and I could rise above everyone to head it back'.

Every single football match I have ever been to I'd reach my seat and think Can the ball reach me here? What is my plan if it does? In winter I even plan where I would ditch my hot chocolate if the ball pings my way.

I'd dreamt about the big moment.

The flip-side of this ambition is the thought of could happen if I fooked it up, leaping into the air only to mistime the header, crush a few fellow fans and be the laughing stock of 15,000 people.

Fast forward to tonight at the Valley, Charlton V Ipswich pre-season friendly. I'm sat with my 11yr old daughter three rows behind Mick McCarthy in the away dugout.

76 minutes in and their defence clear the ball high into the air. IT WAS HEADING TOWARDS ME. In a split second I thought 'here's my chance, don't **** it up Stu'. Leaping up like Cristiano Ronaldo I kept my eye on the ball and dispatched the best header of my life ⚽️⚽️ straight towards the centre circle over the disbelieving head of £6M rated Ademola Lookman.

Charlton fans took to their feet and clapped. I took a bow and told Mia 'I've ALWAYS wanted to do that'.

Then the best bit. The Ipswich fans (all 220 of them) sang me a rendition of ''SIGN HIM UP, SIGN HIM UP, SIGN HIM UP'' for about a minute.

The game finished 0-0, my header was the highlight ;-)

BUZZING!!

BigRedEvil · July 2016

Did Slade see it? You could probably get a game up front with that heading ability.

Atletico Addick · July 2016

Fanny Fanackapan · July 2016

stuart_lee said:
Ever since my Dad took me to my first football match at about the age of 10, I've always thought to myself 'wouldn't it be amazing if the ball was kicked into the crowd and I could rise above everyone to head it back'.

Every single football match I have ever been to I'd reach my seat and think Can the ball reach me here? What is my plan if it does? In winter I even plan where I would ditch my hot chocolate if the ball pings my way.

I'd dreamt about the big moment.

The flip-side of this ambition is the thought of could happen if I fooked it up, leaping into the air only to mistime the header, crush a few fellow fans and be the laughing stock of 15,000 people.

Fast forward to tonight at the Valley, Charlton V Ipswich pre-season friendly. I'm sat with my 11yr old daughter three rows behind Mick McCarthy in the away dugout.

76 minutes in and their defence clear the ball high into the air. IT WAS HEADING TOWARDS ME. In a split second I thought 'here's my chance, don't **** it up Stu'. Leaping up like Cristiano Ronaldo I kept my eye on the ball and dispatched the best header of my life ⚽️⚽️

LOL !

Heard a cheer & a faint chant of " sign him up ! "

Weegie Addick · July 2016

Shame there weren't 15,000 there to see it!

Nicholas · July 2016

Well played mate shame only about 10 people saw it and half of them was the Charlton squad.

RodneyCharltonTrotta · July 2016

stuart_lee said:

Fast forward to tonight at the Valley, Charlton V Ipswich pre-season friendly. I'm sat with my 11yr old daughter three rows behind Mick McCarthy in the away dugout.

76 minutes in and their defence clear the ball high into the air. IT WAS HEADING TOWARDS ME. In a split second I thought 'here's my chance, don't **** it up Stu'. Leaping up like Cristiano Ronaldo I kept my eye on the ball and dispatched the best header of my life ⚽️⚽️

When I was a kid I used to go to the same church as Mick McCarthy when he was Millwall manager as he lived round our way.

Can't remember for the life of me why but once we had to do some performance thing for school during mass which involved me doing jumping off a step ladder and pretending to head an invisible ball.

McCarthy had a front row pew and I recall thinking in my young mind if I did the airborne football mime with enough gusto and technique in front of him then perhaps he might think "This kid's got something" and offer me a trial and so I could go and be a footballer instead of having to do embarrassing stuff like this in a church.

Nailed it but never got the offer from Big Mick and work in an office now.

Leuth · July 2016

Well, this is the best thread in months

Addickted · July 2016

Put up your 'phone number for Katrien.

If Nabby Sar can get a contract then you're in with a great chance Stu.

4 years @ £20k a week should be the bear minimum you should expect.

Oh, and try not to get injured.

Athletico Charlton · July 2016

Great post.

TalBHAndreBA · July 2016

I saw it, was about 15 seats to the left of you, great header.

Callumcafc · July 2016

Brilliant.

uie2 · July 2016

stuart_lee said:
Ever since my Dad took me to my first football match at about the age of 10, I've always thought to myself 'wouldn't it be amazing if the ball was kicked into the crowd and I could rise above everyone to head it back'.

Every single football match I have ever been to I'd reach my seat and think Can the ball reach me here? What is my plan if it does? In winter I even plan where I would ditch my hot chocolate if the ball pings my way.

I'd dreamt about the big moment.

The flip-side of this ambition is the thought of could happen if I fooked it up, leaping into the air only to mistime the header, crush a few fellow fans and be the laughing stock of 15,000 people.

Fast forward to tonight at the Valley, Charlton V Ipswich pre-season friendly. I'm sat with my 11yr old daughter three rows behind Mick McCarthy in the away dugout.

76 minutes in and their defence clear the ball high into the air. IT WAS HEADING TOWARDS ME. In a split second I thought 'here's my chance, don't **** it up Stu'. Leaping up like Cristiano Ronaldo I kept my eye on the ball and dispatched the best header of my life ⚽️⚽️

I saw that Stu great header! I've done that well I didn't mean to actually. It was at selhurst I was about 12 years old Paul Millar I think cleared the ball high I heard my dad shout Stuart the ball ball!!! As I turned to him it bounced on my head lol! I've also caught the ball from a curling Gary Speed (RIP legend ) free kick against Bolton in the Prem! And lastly 2nd seasons ago at home to Colchester in the cup the ball was belted at the goal and missed , it flew at my Partners head my reaction was to safe her I dived across her and punched the ball away promting Pope to shout out, great save mate!

_MrDick · July 2016

stuart_lee said:
Ever since my Dad took me to my first football match at about the age of 10, I've always thought to myself 'wouldn't it be amazing if the ball was kicked into the crowd and I could rise above everyone to head it back'.

Every single football match I have ever been to I'd reach my seat and think Can the ball reach me here? What is my plan if it does? In winter I even plan where I would ditch my hot chocolate if the ball pings my way.

I'd dreamt about the big moment.

The flip-side of this ambition is the thought of could happen if I fooked it up, leaping into the air only to mistime the header, crush a few fellow fans and be the laughing stock of 15,000 people.

Fast forward to tonight at the Valley, Charlton V Ipswich pre-season friendly. I'm sat with my 11yr old daughter three rows behind Mick McCarthy in the away dugout.

76 minutes in and their defence clear the ball high into the air. IT WAS HEADING TOWARDS ME. In a split second I thought 'here's my chance, don't **** it up Stu'. Leaping up like Cristiano Ronaldo I kept my eye on the ball and dispatched the best header of my life ⚽️⚽️

You should've caught it ... We still need a keeper

ricky_otto · July 2016

_MrDick said:

stuart_lee said:
Ever since my Dad took me to my first football match at about the age of 10, I've always thought to myself 'wouldn't it be amazing if the ball was kicked into the crowd and I could rise above everyone to head it back'.

Every single football match I have ever been to I'd reach my seat and think Can the ball reach me here? What is my plan if it does? In winter I even plan where I would ditch my hot chocolate if the ball pings my way.

I'd dreamt about the big moment.

The flip-side of this ambition is the thought of could happen if I fooked it up, leaping into the air only to mistime the header, crush a few fellow fans and be the laughing stock of 15,000 people.

Fast forward to tonight at the Valley, Charlton V Ipswich pre-season friendly. I'm sat with my 11yr old daughter three rows behind Mick McCarthy in the away dugout.

76 minutes in and their defence clear the ball high into the air. IT WAS HEADING TOWARDS ME. In a split second I thought 'here's my chance, don't **** it up Stu'. Leaping up like Cristiano Ronaldo I kept my eye on the ball and dispatched the best header of my life ⚽️⚽️
You should've caught it ... We still need a keeper

He tried to but it hit him on the head.

thai malaysia addick · July 2016

stuart_lee said:
Ever since my Dad took me to my first football match at about the age of 10, I've always thought to myself 'wouldn't it be amazing if the ball was kicked into the crowd and I could rise above everyone to head it back'.

Every single football match I have ever been to I'd reach my seat and think Can the ball reach me here? What is my plan if it does? In winter I even plan where I would ditch my hot chocolate if the ball pings my way.

I'd dreamt about the big moment.

The flip-side of this ambition is the thought of could happen if I fooked it up, leaping into the air only to mistime the header, crush a few fellow fans and be the laughing stock of 15,000 people.

Fast forward to tonight at the Valley, Charlton V Ipswich pre-season friendly. I'm sat with my 11yr old daughter three rows behind Mick McCarthy in the away dugout.

76 minutes in and their defence clear the ball high into the air. IT WAS HEADING TOWARDS ME. In a split second I thought 'here's my chance, don't **** it up Stu'. Leaping up like Cristiano Ronaldo I kept my eye on the ball and dispatched the best header of my life ⚽️⚽️

It doesn't really compare with a reserve game in the 1970s against Aldershot when the ball came towards me, I caught it on my thigh, let it drop to my left foot, played keepy uppy 10 or 11 times, flicked it towards my head, headed it in the air 4 times, rolled the ball round the back of my neck before crisply volleying it back to Jack Burkett who was by the touch line waiting to take the throw.

I might have recalled some of the detail wrongly but it was something like that.

Great work @stuart_lee !

DaveMehmet · July 2016

We were playing Portsmouth (I think) in the Full Members/Zenith whatever it was called cup in a night game at Upton Park when the ball came into the crowd as we won a corner. We'd just conceded a 3rd goal and my mate picked it up, booted it back on the pitch and shouted "fucking do something with it". The ref saw him and wagged his finger and showed him the red card. We were in bits.

The Red Robin · July 2016

Should've caught it. You'd be our new number one by Saturday then.

Greenie · July 2016

The Red Robin said:
Should've caught it. You'd be our new number one by Saturday then.

There's a shocking echo on this thread!

Todds_right_hook · July 2016

I could be our new keeper but wouldn't pass the Charlton life height test.

I was at an u18 cup game played at welling against Leicester about 5 years ago and was sitting in the Erith and belvedere stand. The ball came towards me, I got my body behind the ball and didn't spill it Nick Pope style. I then threw the ball into the pitch like Peter schmeichel. An old man a few rows behind shouted "well played keeper". I've told my agent that I'm not prepared to play for the club I love until Roland has gone

letthegoodtimesroll · July 2016

This thread reminds of a couple of incidents from my past, the first when we're kids and standing in the old covered end, on the railings when a wide shot came our way heading for one of our mates who wasn't quite paying attention and turned at the last minute and perfectly headed the ball back. He was quite rightly pleased with his effort.

The other incident was probably about 30 years ago when I trotted along to a non league club for a FA Cup first round match against Torquay. As Torquay attacked down our side the defender came in with a tackle that sent the ball shooting towards a young lad standing behind the railings and not paying attention to a game, his side had more or less lost at this stage. The ball smacked him in the side of the head and knocked him flat. Everybody was initially concerned that he might be out cold at first. The defender came over to see if he was OK and when the kid got up and said he was alright the defender said let that be a lesson, watch the game next time.

Having moved back to the covered end (that's the lower north) I'm probably going to be back in the firing line and this thread has prompted me to be determined that should the opportunity come my way to head a wayward shot back into play I too will make the most of the chance

and duck and let the bloke behind me deal with it.

ricky_otto · July 2016

Can't remember where it was (may have been Portsmouth) but the ball sailed in to the terrace from a "peakie rocket" over somebody's head, that person turned around to see where the ball ended up, the ball hit one of the steps behind him and rebounded straight in his face.

soapy_jones · July 2016

I heard that you woke RD up in his Belgian bunker with that bit of skill Stu. Expect a phone call from one of Latriens's flunkies...

Rob7Lee · July 2016

Did anyone catch it on video, might make the season 'best of' DVD....

stuart_lee · July 2016

Hahaha cheers all, I'm still buzzing today. I really hope no-one has it recorded, it might not be as good as my memory lol.

I've just edited original post with the full story, the original post wasn't the full version of events.

se9addick · July 2016

Top man !!

bobmunro · July 2016

thai malaysia addick said:

It doesn't really compare with a reserve game in the 1970s against Aldershot when the ball came towards me, I caught it on my thigh, let it drop to my left foot, played keepy uppy 10 or 11 times, flicked it towards my head, headed it in the air 4 times, rolled the ball round the back of my neck before crisply volleying it back to Jack Burkett who was by the touch line waiting to take the throw.

I might have recalled some of the detail wrongly but it was something like that.

Great work @stuart_lee !

Liar!! I was there and distinctly remember it being a half-volley!

Curb_It · July 2016

Well done Stuart! Its a shame there weren't so many to see it but at least the Ipswich fans saw it!

creepyaddick · July 2016

Nice one Stu but there's a video of Colin Walshs love child with a volley at Yeovil in the rain I believe!

Swisdom · July 2016

I did the same against Bromley the other week in the warm-up.

I was on my phone (probably catching Pokemon) and glanced up to see an errant touch from Jacko heading my way so I nodded it back. I felt nonchalant but the reality was it was a little high on the head and actually hurt a bit.

NornIrishAddick · July 2016

stuart_lee said:
Ever since my Dad took me to my first football match at about the age of 10, I've always thought to myself 'wouldn't it be amazing if the ball was kicked into the crowd and I could rise above everyone to head it back'.

Every single football match I have ever been to I'd reach my seat and think Can the ball reach me here? What is my plan if it does? In winter I even plan where I would ditch my hot chocolate if the ball pings my way.

I'd dreamt about the big moment.

The flip-side of this ambition is the thought of could happen if I fooked it up, leaping into the air only to mistime the header, crush a few fellow fans and be the laughing stock of 15,000 people.

Fast forward to tonight at the Valley, Charlton V Ipswich pre-season friendly. I'm sat with my 11yr old daughter three rows behind Mick McCarthy in the away dugout.

76 minutes in and their defence clear the ball high into the air. IT WAS HEADING TOWARDS ME. In a split second I thought 'here's my chance, don't **** it up Stu'. Leaping up like Cristiano Ronaldo I kept my eye on the ball and dispatched the best header of my life ⚽️⚽️ straight towards the centre circle over the disbelieving head of £6M rated Ademola Lookman.

Charlton fans took to their feet and clapped. I took a bow and told Mia 'I've ALWAYS wanted to do that'.

Then the best bit. The Ipswich fans (all 220 of them) sang me a rendition of ''SIGN HIM UP, SIGN HIM UP, SIGN HIM UP'' for about a minute.

The game finished 0-0, my header was the highlight ;-)

BUZZING!!

Probably concussion...

Mind you, you could have a claim.

New Article: A special moment during the Ipswich game

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